Pai Circulates Order Unwinding Title II

WASHINGTON—FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has officially issued the roll back of Title II classification of internet access providers. This would no longer classify them as common carriers subject to mandatory access requirements. The item has been circulated to the FCC commissioners ahead of a planned vote on Dec. 14, where it is expected to pass despite Democratic opposition.

In another 3-2 vote along party lines, the FCC voted on Dec. 14 to eliminate most network neutrality rules, reclassify ISPs, wired and wireless, as non-common carriers and deed most of the internet policing functions to the Federal Trade Commission or Justice Department.

Despite some posturing by some Democrats about the re-nomination of FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, his continuation in the role seems to be coming soon as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has filed cloture, according to Hill sources.

Following President Trump’s tweets last week that NBC News should have its licensed reviewed in response to a negative story about the president, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has come out and said that “under the law, the FCC doesn’t have the authority to revoke a license of a broadcast station based on the content of a particular newscast.”